Collapsible storage and transportation unit

ABSTRACT

A collapsible storage and transportation unit is disclosed and comprises a base including a cargo area surrounded by an edge having four ends; four wall panel supporting members connected to the edge of the base, each wall panel supporting member comprising at least a first post member and a second post member, the wall panel supporting members being pivotable between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration, wherein in the folded configuration the wall panel supporting members are lying down over the base and the collapsible storage and transportation unit is in a collapsed configuration. In the unfolded configuration the first post member of a first given wall panel supporting member and the second post member of a second given wall panel supporting member are both adjacent to each other. A first collapsible storage and transportation unit is stackable over a second collapsible storage and transportation unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority on United States Provisional Application No. 62/701,966, filed on Jul. 23, 2018.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to storage and transportation units, and more particularly to a collapsible storage and transportation unit configurable in a collapsed and uncollapsed configurations.

BACKGROUND

Shipping containers revolutionized domestic and global trades by dramatically reducing the costs, time and losses associated with the transportation of goods (or cargo). Goods may be stored and transported using various types of containers. Typically, a container for storing and transporting goods will comprise a cargo base for receiving the goods to be stored and/or transported thereon as well as side structures to contain the goods on the base. Such containers are usually rectangular or cubic to enable a plurality of containers to be stacked and/or disposed adjacent to each other such that there is no space or minimal space between the containers.

However, depending on the particularities of trading routes, the worldwide use of shipping containers poses environmental and economic issues. For instance, when there is an imbalance in the net amount of shipping containers trafficking between two market destinations, they tend to pill up at one end of the line where they take up space that could be used otherwise. In this case, it is usually too expensive to send back empty containers over long distances to the original market destination while it is almost the same cost to expedite shipping containers full of goods. Accordingly, it would be desirable to have shipping containers that may be shipped empty and/or stored without occupying an unnecessary large amount of space.

Furthermore, most shipping containers are not configured to adapt to the nature of cargo being stored or transported by either protecting the cargo from the outside environment (in the case, e.g., of goods sensitive to air, humidity, light, etc.) or by exposing the cargo to the outside environment (in the case, e.g., of live animals).

There is therefore a need for a shipping container that will overcome at least one of the above-identified issues or drawbacks.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to a broad aspect, there is disclosed a collapsible storage and transportation unit, comprising a base including a cargo area surrounded by an edge having four ends; four wall panel supporting members connected to the edge of the base, each wall panel supporting member comprising at least a first post member and a second post member, the wall panel supporting members being pivotable between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration, wherein in the folded configuration the wall panel supporting members are lying down over the base and the collapsible storage and transportation unit is in a collapsed configuration, wherein in the unfolded configuration the first post member of a first given wall panel supporting member and the second post member of a second given wall panel supporting member are both adjacent to each other and project together from each corresponding end of the base generally perpendicularly thereto and four locking means, each locking means comprising a first locking member and a second locking member, the first locking member being located on a first post member of a first wall panel supporting member, the second locking member being located on a second post member of a second wall panel supporting member, wherein the physical coupling between the first locking member and the second locking member enables locking the first wall panel supporting member and the second wall panel supporting member in a uncollapsed configuration, wherein a first collapsible storage and transportation unit is stackable over a second collapsible storage and transportation unit.

According to an embodiment, the collapsible storage and transportation unit further comprises at least one wall panel, the at least one wall panel being connectable between two corresponding post members of any wall panel supporting member.

According to an embodiment, the first collapsible storage and transportation unit in any one of the collapsed and the uncollapsed configuration is stackable over the second collapsible storage and transportation unit in any one of the collapsed and the uncollapsed configuration.

According to an embodiment, the collapsible storage and transportation unit is transportable in presence or absence of the at least one wall panel.

According to an embodiment, the first collapsible storage and transportation unit and the second collapsible storage and transportation unit are stackable over each other in presence or absence of the at least one wall panel.

According to an embodiment, the at least one wall panel is stackable over another wall panel.

According to an embodiment, the at least one wall panel is transportable while stacked over another wall panel.

According to an embodiment, each of the four wall panel supporting members comprises a U-shaped frame.

According to an embodiment, the at least one wall panel is received within the U-shaped frame.

According to an embodiment, each of the four wall panel supporting members comprises at least one hinge.

According to an embodiment, the at least one hinge comprises a slotted hinge.

According to an embodiment, the slotted hinge is sized and shaped so that the four wall panel supporting members are collapsed in a random order.

According to an embodiment, the first locking member comprises a male connector and the second locking member comprises a female connector sized and shaped to receive the male connector therein.

According to an embodiment, the male connector physically couples the female connector socket by a vertical displacement of the at least one slotted hinge.

According to an embodiment, the male connector comprises a hook and the female connector comprises a hook-receiving socket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be readily understood, embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a top, front, right side perspective view of a collapsible storage and transportation unit, in accordance with one embodiment. The collapsible storage and transportation unit comprises a base, four wall panel supporting members, four locking means, and four wall panels.

FIG. 2 is a top, front, left side perspective view of the collapsible storage and transportation unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top, front, right side perspective view of the base of the collapsible storage and transportation unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the base of the collapsible storage and transportation unit shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the base of the collapsible storage and transportation unit shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a left elevation view of the base of the collapsible storage and transportation unit shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a top, front, right side perspective view of a wall panel supporting member of the collapsible storage and transportation unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of the wall panel supporting member of the collapsible storage and transportation unit shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a left elevation view of the wall panel supporting member of the collapsible storage and transportation unit shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged left elevation view of the wall panel supporting member shown in FIG. 1. The illustrated wall panel supporting member is in a collapsed configuration.

FIG. 11 is a top, rear, right side perspective view of another wall panel supporting member of the collapsible storage and transportation unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a front plan view of the other wall panel supporting member of the collapsible storage and transportation unit shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a top, front, right side perspective view of a wall panel of the collapsible storage and transportation unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 is a top, front, right side perspective view of a wall panel connected to a wall panel supporting member of the collapsible storage and transportation unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 15 is a top, front, right side perspective view of a wall panel connected to another wall panel supporting member of the collapsible storage and transportation unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 16 is a top, front, right side perspective view of the collapsible storage and transportation unit shown in FIG. 1. The illustrated collapsible storage and transportation unit has a first wall panel supporting member, which is connected to a wall panel, partially folded.

FIG. 17 is a top, front, right side perspective view of the collapsible storage and transportation unit shown in FIG. 16. The illustrated collapsible storage and transportation unit has a first wall panel supporting member, which is connected to a wall panel, completely folded.

FIG. 18 is a top, front, right side perspective view of the collapsible storage and transportation unit shown in FIG. 17. The illustrated collapsible storage and transportation unit has a first and second wall panel supporting members, which are connected to two corresponding wall panels, completely folded.

FIG. 19 is a top, front, right side perspective view of the collapsible storage and transportation unit shown in FIG. 18. The illustrated collapsible storage and transportation unit has a first and second wall panel supporting members, which are connected to two corresponding wall panels, completely folded and a third wall panel supporting member, which is also connected to a wall panel, partially folded.

FIG. 20 is a top, front, right side perspective view of the collapsible storage and transportation unit shown in FIG. 19. The illustrated collapsible storage and transportation unit has the four wall panel supporting members, which are connected to four corresponding wall panels, completely folded and is therefore in a collapsed configuration.

FIG. 21 is a top, front, right side perspective view of two collapsible storage and transportation units shown in FIG. 1 that are stacked over each other. The two illustrated collapsible storage and transportation units are in a uncollapsed configuration.

FIG. 22 is a top, front, right side perspective view of the two collapsible storage and transportation units shown in FIG. 21. The two illustrated collapsible storage and transportation units are in a collapsed configuration.

FIG. 23 is a top, front, right side perspective view of the two collapsible storage and transportation units shown in FIG. 21. The two illustrated collapsible storage and transportation units are in an uncollapsed configuration and no wall panel are connected thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of the embodiments, references to the accompanying drawings are by way of illustration of an example by which the invention may be practised. It will be understood that various embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed.

Terms

The term “invention” and the like mean “the one or more inventions disclosed in this application”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “an aspect”, “an embodiment”, “a given embodiment”, “embodiment”, “embodiments”, “the embodiment”, “the embodiments”, “one or more embodiments”, “some embodiments”, “certain embodiments”, “one embodiment”, “another embodiment”, and the like mean “one or more (but not all) embodiments of the disclosed invention(s)”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

A reference to “another embodiment” or “another aspect” in describing an embodiment does not imply that the referenced embodiment is mutually exclusive with another embodiment (e.g., an embodiment described before the referenced embodiment), unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “including”, “comprising”, and variations thereof mean “including but not limited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “a”, “an”, and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The term “plurality” means “two or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The term “herein” means “in the present application, including anything that may be incorporated by reference”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The term “whereby” is used herein only to precede a clause or other set of words that express only the intended result, objective, or consequence of something that is previously and explicitly recited. Thus, when the term “whereby” is used in a claim, the clause or other set of words that the term “whereby” modifies do not establish specific further limitations of the claim or otherwise restricts the meaning or scope of the claim.

The term “e.g.” and like terms mean “for example”, and thus do not limit the terms or phrases they explain.

The term “i.e.” and like terms mean “that is”, and thus limit the terms or phrases they explain.

Neither the Title nor the Abstract is to be taken as limiting in any way as the scope of the disclosed invention(s). The title and headings of sections of the present application are for convenience only and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way.

Numerous embodiments are described in the present application and are presented for illustrative purposes only. The described embodiments are not, and are not intended to be, limiting in any sense. The presently disclosed invention(s) is or are widely applicable to numerous embodiments, as is readily apparent from the disclosure. A skilled addressee will appreciate that the disclosed invention(s) may be practised with various modifications and alterations, such as structural modifications, for instance. Although particular features of the disclosed invention(s) may be described with reference to one or more particular embodiments and/or drawings, it should be understood that such features are not limited to usage in the one or more particular embodiments or drawings with reference to which they are described, unless expressly specified otherwise.

With all this in mind, the present disclosure is directed to a collapsible storage and transportation unit. In one embodiment, the collapsible storage and transportation unit is used for storing cargoes and/or goods. In another embodiment, the collapsible storage and transportation unit is used for transporting and/or shipping cargoes and/or goods. In the present disclosure, it will be appreciated that cargoes and/or goods may be anything that is susceptible to be stored, transported, and/or shipped by the use of any kind of containers, including but not limited to shipping containers, intermodal containers, cargo containers, freight containers, ISO containers, High Cube or Hi-Cube containers, sea or ocean containers, sea cans or c cans, container vans or boxes (Conex), for example.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is disclosed a collapsible storage and transportation unit 100, in accordance with an embodiment. The collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 comprises a base 102, a pair of longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b, a pair of shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b, four frame locking elements 108 a, 108 b, 108 c, 108 d to lock the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b and the shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b together in a uncollapsed configuration, as well as four interchangeable wall panels 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, 110 d receivable and securable to the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b and the shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b, as it will be described in greater details.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 6, the base 102 will now be described in accordance with one embodiment. The base 102 is generally rectangular and comprises a pair of longer parallel longitudinal sides 300 a, 300 b extending perpendicularly between a pair of shorter parallel longitudinal sides 302 a, 302 b, as well as a lower face 304, an opposed upper face 306, and four corners 308 a, 308 b, 308 c, 308 d. The upper face 306 includes a cargo area 310 (i.e. where the cargoes and/or goods are received) surrounded on its outer edge by a pair of longer peripheral plates 400 a, 400 b extending along the longer parallel longitudinal sides 300 a, 300 b, and a pair of shorter peripheral plates 402 a, 402 b extending along the shorter parallel longitudinal sides 302 a, 302 b. Cargo area 310 may or may not comprise of a plurality of additional crossbars underneath for added support of cargo load.

On the lower face 304 of an embodiment, the base 102 comprises four generally rectangular corner foot members 312 a, 312 b, 312 c, 312 d projecting perpendicularly relative to the base 102 (i.e. downwardly), as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6. The corner foot members 312 a, 312 b, 312 c, 312 d are located at the corresponding corners 308 a, 308 b, 308 c, 308 d and are adapted to support the base 102 and its cargo on a corresponding pair of longer strip baseplates 314 a, 314 b and a corresponding pair of shorter strip baseplates 316 a, 316 b to which they are connected. More particularly, the longer strip baseplates 314 a, 314 b extend along the corresponding longer parallel longitudinal sides 300 a, 300 b of base 102, while the shorter strip baseplates 316 a, 316 b extend along the corresponding shorter parallel longitudinal sides 302 a, 302 b of base 102. Taken together, the longer strip baseplates 314 a, 314 b and the shorter strip baseplates 316 a, 316 b define a generally rectangular structure having a hollow centre generally centred on the cargo area 310. It will be appreciated that baseplates 314 a, 314 b, 316 a and 316 b each may similarly have upwardly stamped embossments for increased strength and rigidity.

Still on the lower face 304 of an embodiment, the base 102 further comprises four generally U-shaped central supports 318 a, 318 b, 318 c, 318 d providing structural rigidity to the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 for supporting the cargo. More particularly, the U-shaped central supports 318 b, 318 d extend between the corresponding longer peripheral plates 400 a, 400 b and the corresponding longer strip baseplates 314 a, 314 b, while the U-shaped central supports 318 a, 318 c extend between the corresponding shorter peripheral plates 402 a, 402 b and the corresponding shorter strip baseplates 316 a, 316 b. Each of the U-shaped central supports 318 a, 318 b, 318 c, 318 d is further centred between the corresponding corner foot members 312 a, 312 b, 312 c, 312 d, therefore defining lifting openings 320 a, 320 b, 320 c, 320 d along the corresponding longer parallel longitudinal sides 300 a, 300 b and lifting openings 322 a, 322 b, 322 c, 322 d along the corresponding shorter parallel longitudinal sides 302 a, 302 b on the lower face 304 of base 102.

The skilled addressee will appreciate that the U-shaped central supports 318 a, 318 b, 318 c, 318 d may have various configurations, including size, shape and location, as long as the lifting openings 320 a, 320 b, 320 c, 320 d and 322 a, 322 b, 322 c, 322 d are maintained for the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 to be handled by lifting equipment, such as for instance using forklifts, jacks, and the likes. Similarly, it will be appreciated that the lifting openings 320 a, 320 b, 320 c, 320 d and 322 a, 322 b, 322 c, 322 d may also have various configurations, including size, shape and location, as long as the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 maintain the ability to be handled by lifting equipment.

In one embodiment, and with reference to FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, the corner foot members 312 a, 312 b, 312 c, 312 d and the U-shaped central supports 318 a, 318 b, 318 c, 318 d provide the clearance required for lifting equipment to place lifting forks within any of the lifting openings 320 a, 320 b, 320 c, 320 d and 322 a, 322 b, 322 c, 322 d for handling the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100. The skilled addressee will appreciate that such a configuration enables the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 to be lifted and handled by any of the longer parallel longitudinal sides 300 a, 300 b and any of the shorter parallel longitudinal sides 302 a, 302 b. Alternatively, the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 may be provided without the corner foot members 312 a, 312 b, 312 c, 312 d such that the base 102 is closer to the ground instead of being elevated thereof.

On the upper face 306 of an embodiment, and referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the base 102 comprises four generally rectangular alignment notch supports 322 a, 322 b, 322 c, 322 d projecting perpendicularly relative to the base 102 (i.e. upwardly). The alignment notch supports 322 a, 322 b, 322 c, 322 d are located at the corresponding corners 308 a, 308 b, 308 c, 308 d, above the corresponding corner foot members 312 a, 312 b, 312 c, 312 d, and are adapted to house both four alignment notches 324 a, 324 b, 324 c, 324 d and four slotted hinge members 404 a, 404 b, 404 c, 404 d, which includes four corresponding vertical openings 330 a, 330 b, 330 c, 330 d. More particularly, atop each alignment notch supports 322 a, 322 b, 322 c, 322 d is a corresponding alignment notch 324 a, 324 b, 324 c, 324 d that may be used to stack the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 over another collapsible storage and transportation unit 100. The alignment notch 324 a, 324 b, 324 c, 324 d may also be used to maintain the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b in an upstanding position, as it will be described. As it will also be described, on opposing faces of the alignment notch supports 322 a, 322 b, 322 c, 322 d, along the corresponding longer parallel longitudinal sides 300 a, 300 b, are the slotted hinge members 404 a, 404 b, 404 c, 404 d that may be used to pivot the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b in a completely flat configuration above the base 102.

Still on the upper face 306 of an embodiment, the base 102 further comprises a pair of longer base sidewalls 326 a, 326 b and a pair of shorter base sidewalls 328 c, 328 d extending perpendicularly relative to the base 102 (i.e. upwardly), as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The longer base sidewalls 326 a, 326 b extend along the corresponding longer parallel longitudinal sides 300 a, 300 b and comprise the alignment notch supports 322 a, 322 b, 322 c, 322 d, four frame supports 406 a, 406 b, 406 c, 406 d, and two L-shaped central supports 412 a, 412 b. The shorter base sidewalls 328 a, 328 b extend between the corresponding alignment notch supports 322 a, 322 b, 322 c, 322 d of longer base sidewalls 326 a, 326 b, along the corresponding shorter parallel longitudinal sides 302 a, 302 b, and comprise four frame supports 408 a, 408 b, 408 c, 408 d, which includes four vertical openings 332 a, 332 b, 332 c, 332 d. In one embodiment, the frame supports 406 a, 406 b, 406 c, 406 d and 408 a, 408 b, 408 c, 408 d of base 102 are opened at their uppermost portions to provide free access to the inside. In an alternative embodiment, the uppermost portions of frame supports 406 a, 406 b, 406 c, 406 d and 408 a, 408 b, 408 c, 408 d are capped off to block this access. Taken together, the longer base sidewalls 326 a, 326 b and the shorter base sidewalls 328 a, 328 b of base 102 define with the cargo area 310 an open cavity having an opening directed upwardly. It will be appreciated that the pair of longer base sidewalls 326 a, 326 b may have an upwardly extending portion located at the middle which provides additional support for longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b.

In an embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the length L₁ of the longer parallel longitudinal sides 300 a, 300 b is longer than the length S₁ of the shorter parallel longitudinal sides 302 a, 302 b. In another embodiment, the length L₁ of the longer parallel longitudinal sides 300 a, 300 b is shorter than the length S₁ of the shorter parallel longitudinal sides 302 a, 302 b. In yet another embodiment, the length L₁ of the longer parallel longitudinal sides 300 a, 300 b is equal to the length S₁ of the shorter parallel longitudinal sides 302 a, 302 b, the base 102 thereby being generally square.

Turning to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the longer base sidewalls 326 a, 326 b of base 102 will now further be described in accordance with one embodiment. Since the longer base sidewalls 326 a, 326 b are mirror images of each other, only the longer base sidewall 326 a will be described. The skilled addressee will appreciate that a similar description applies to the longer base sidewall 326 b with appropriate modifications to account for the fact it is a mirror image of the longer base sidewall 326 a, if applicable.

The longer base sidewall 326 a of base 102 extends between the corners 308 b, 308 c along the full length (i.e. the length L₁) of the longer parallel longitudinal side 300 a on the upper face 306 of base 102, as illustrated in FIG. 5. In one embodiment, the longer base sidewall 326 a comprises on its inner face facing the cargo area 310 inside the cavity of base 102, the alignment notch supports 322 b, 322 c, which house the alignment notches 324 b, 324 c, the slotted hinge members 404 b, 404 c, the frame supports 406 b, 406 c, and the L-shaped central support 412 a. Located at each extremity of the longer base sidewall 326 a, at the corresponding corners 308 b, 380 c, the alignment notches 324 b, 324 c may fulfill a variety of functions. For example, the alignment notches 324 b, 324 c of a first collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 are adapted to be received in a corresponding socket, not shown, located on the bottom face of corner foot members 312 b, 312 c of a second collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 stacked over the first collapsible storage and transportation unit 100. The alignment notches 324 b, 324 c are also adapted to be received in a corresponding notch-receiving sockets 720 a, 720 b of corresponding longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a to maintain same in an upstanding position, e.g. while the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 is in a uncollapsed configuration.

In one embodiment, the alignment notch supports 322 b, 322 d of longer base sidewall 326 a further comprises the slotted hinge members 404 b, 404 c, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The slotted hinge members 404 b, 404 c include corresponding vertical openings 330 b and 330 c, which exposed their openings in opposing direction along the longer peripheral plate 400 a. More particularly, each of the vertical openings 330 b and 330 c of slotted hinge members 404 b, 404 c is elongated and extends vertically (i.e. parallel to the longer base sidewalls 326 a) along the mutually opposing faces of the alignment notch supports 322 b, 322 c. This configuration enables the slotted hinge members 404 b, 404 c of base 102 to connect corresponding slotted hinge members 800 a, 800 b of longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a with the aid of a guiding cylindrical pin 1000 a, 1000 b such that the wall panel 110 a may be pivoted relative to the base 102, as it will further be described.

For supporting the wall panel 110 a in an upstanding position while the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 is in a uncollapsed configuration, and with reference to FIG. 4, the longer base sidewall 326 a comprises on its inner face facing the cargo area 310 inside the cavity of base 102, the wall frame supports 406 b, 406 c. In one embodiment, the wall frame supports 406 b, 406 c generally define a U-shaped configuration with their concave portions facing and contacting the longer base sidewall 326 a and projecting from the longer peripheral plate 400 a in a direction generally perpendicularly relative to the base 102 (i.e. upwardly). The frame supports 406 b, 406 c are also adjacent to the corresponding alignment notch supports 322 b, 322 c of base 102, next to the vertical openings 330 b, 330 c of slotted hinge members 404 b, 404 c.

In another embodiment, the L-shaped central support 412 a generally defines an inverted L-shaped configuration with its vertical projection projecting generally perpendicularly from the longer peripheral plate 400 a (i.e. upwardly) and its connecting horizontal projection projecting horizontally to connect the longer base sidewall 326 a. The L-shaped central support 412 a is located at the centre of the longer base sidewall 326 a, just above the U-shaped central support 318 b. Alternatively, the L-shaped central support 412 a may extend all the way across the longer base sidewall 326 a.

Turning to FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, the shorter base sidewalls 328 a, 328 b of base 102 will now further be described in accordance with one embodiment. Since the shorter base sidewalls 328 a, 328 b are mirror images of each other, only the shorter base sidewall 328 a will be described. The skilled addressee will appreciate that a similar description applies to the shorter base sidewall 328 b with appropriate modifications to account for the fact it is a mirror image of the shorter base sidewall 328 a, if applicable.

The shorter base sidewall 328 a of base 102 extends between the corners 308 a, 308 b along the length S₂ on the shorter parallel longitudinal side 302 a on the upper face 306 of base 102, as illustrated in FIG. 6. In one embodiment, the shorter base sidewall 328 a comprises the frame supports 408 a, 408 b on its inner face facing the cargo area 310 inside the cavity of base 102. As for the longer base sidewall 326 a, the frame supports 408 a, 408 b of shorter base sidewall 328 a also generally defines a U-shaped configuration with their concave portions facing and contacting the shorter base sidewall 328 a and projecting from the shorter peripheral plate 402 a in a direction generally perpendicularly relative to the base 102 (i.e. upwardly). Located at each extremity of the shorter base sidewall 328 a, the frame supports 408 a, 408 b are also adjacent to the corresponding alignment notch supports 322 a, 322 b of longer base sidewalls 326 a, 326 b. More particularly, the frame supports 408 a, 408 b are generally arranged perpendicularly relative to the corresponding alignment notch 322 a of longer base sidewall 326 b and the corresponding alignment notch 322 b of longer base sidewall 326 a.

In another embodiment where the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 is collapsible, the frame supports 408 a, 408 b of shorter base sidewall 328 a further comprises the slotted hinge members 410 a, 410 b, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The slotted hinge members 410 a, 410 b include the corresponding vertical openings 332 a and 332 b, which exposed their openings in opposing direction along the shorter peripheral plate 402 a. More particularly, each of the vertical openings 332 a and 332 b of slotted hinge members 410 a, 410 b is elongated and extends vertically (i.e. parallel to the shorter base sidewalls 328 a) along the mutually opposing faces of the frame supports 408 a, 408 b. This configuration enables the slotted hinge members 410 a, 410 b of base 102 to connect corresponding slotted hinge members 1200 a, 1200 b of shorter wall panel supporting frame 106 a with the aid of guiding cylindrical pins, not shown, such that the wall panel 110 d may be pivoted relative to the base 102, as it will further be described.

The skilled addressee will appreciate that the frame supports 406 a, 406 b, 406 c, 406 d and the L-shaped central supports 412 a, 412 b of longer base sidewalls 326 a, 326 b as well as the frame supports 408 a, 408 b, 408 c, 408 d of shorter base sidewalls 328 a, 328 b are adapted to support the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b and the shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b in an upstanding position (e.g. while the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 is in a uncollapsed configuration). It will further be appreciated that the frame supports 406 a, 406 b, 406 c, 406 d, 408 a, 408 b, 408 c, 408 d and the L-shaped central supports 412 a, 412 b of a first collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 in a uncollapsed configuration are further adapted to support the weight of a second collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 that stacked over the first collapsible storage and transportation unit 100.

In the present disclosure, the skilled addressee will also appreciate that the longer base sidewalls 326 a, 326 b (including all its structures and functions described herein) may be generally interchanged with the shorter base sidewalls 328 a, 328 b (including all its structures and functions described herein) to produce a base 102.

Referring to FIGS. 7 to 10, the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b will now be described in accordance with one embodiment. Since the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b are mirror images of each other, only the longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a will be described. The skilled addressee will appreciate that a similar description applies to the longer wall panel supporting frame 104 b with appropriate modifications to account for the fact it is a mirror image of the longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a, if applicable.

In one embodiment, and with reference to FIGS. 7 and 9, the longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a generally defines a U-shaped frame 700 having a first inner face 900 directed towards the cargo area 302 when the wall panel supporting frame 104 a is properly mounted on the base 102 and a second outer face 902 on the opposite face relative to the inner face 900. The longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a comprises a horizontal cross-member 702 having a first and a second extremity 704 a, 704 b from which a corresponding first and second post members 706 a, 706 b project generally perpendicular therefrom (i.e. vertically) to define the U-shaped configuration of the U-shaped frame 700 along with an opened centre portion (i.e. inside the U-shape structure).

The post members 706, 706 b of a given embodiment generally define a rectangular configuration and comprise a pair of outer sides 708 a, 708 b extending perpendicularly between a pair of inner sides 710 a, 710 b where both the outer sides 708 a, 708 b and the inner sides 710 a, 710 b are connected at the middle by horizontal elements 712 a, 712 b and at their most distant part, opposing to the cross-member 702, by upper sides 714 a, 714 b. Taken together, the outer sides 708 a, 708 b, the inner sides 710 a, 710 b, the horizontal elements 712 a, 712 b, and the upper sides 714 a, 714 b define with a corresponding portion of the cross-member 702 four embossments 716 on the outer face 902 of longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a.

Located at each of the extremity 704 a, 704 b of horizontal cross-member 702 and contacting the outer sides 708 a, 708 b of post members 706 a, 706 b are a corresponding first and second hinge-receiving elements 718 a, 718 b with corresponding first and second slotted hinge members 800 a, 800 b secured thereto, as illustrated in FIG. 8. In one embodiment, each slotted hinge members 800 a, 800 b generally defines a L-shaped configuration with a first horizontal segment 802 connecting to the horizontal cross-member 702 of longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a and a second vertical segment 804 projecting from each of the corresponding extremity 704 a, 704 b of horizontal cross-member 702, generally parallel thereof (i.e. downwardly). As illustrated in FIG. 10, each of the vertical segment 804 of slotted hinge members 800 a, 800 b is perforated at its most distant, free extremity to receive the guiding cylindrical pin 1000 a, 1000 b therein (only 1000 b is shown). The slotted hinge member 800 a of longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a is adapted to engage the corresponding slotted hinge member 404 b of longer base sidewall 326 a, while the slotted hinge member 800 b of longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a is adapted to engage the corresponding slotted hinge member 404 c of longer base sidewalls 326 a. The slotted hinge members 800 a, 800 b and 404 b, 404 c are pivotally connected together with the aid of guiding cylindrical pin 1000 a, 1000 b, which pass through the perforation of each of the vertical segment 804 of slotted hinge members 800 a, 800 b to the vertical openings 330 b, 330 c of slotted hinge members 404 b, 404 c of base 102. The skilled addressee will appreciate that this configuration enables the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b to be hingedly and pivotally connected to the base 102.

To assist maintaining the longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a in an upstanding position on the base 102 (i.e. while the collapsible storage and transportation unit is in a uncollapsed configuration), a pair of notch-receiving sockets 720 a, 720 b is provided on the bottom face of each corresponding outer sides 708 a, 708 b of longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a, just next to the corresponding hinge-receiving elements 718 a, 718 b, as in an embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. The notch-receiving sockets 720 a, 720 b comprise corresponding rectangular openings 806 a, 806 b facing in a longitudinal direction relative to the outer sides 708 a, 708 b of longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a. The rectangular openings 806 a, 806 b of notch-receiving sockets 720 a, 720 b are configured to receive the corresponding alignment notches 324 b, 324 c of base 102 therein. More particularly, the hinge-receiving elements 718 a, 718 b provide the appropriate offset required by the alignment notch supports 322 b, 322 c of longer base sidewall 326 a such that the alignment notches 324 b, 324 c of longer base sidewalls 326 a are received in the corresponding rectangular opening 806 a, 806 b of notch-receiving sockets 720 a, 720 while the upstanding longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a (e.g. in the uncollapsed configuration) is moved down towards the base 102 by the action of the slotted hinge members 800 a, 800 b and 404 b, 404 c.

Four frame locking elements 108 a, 108 b, 108 c, 108 d are provided on the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b and the shorter wall panel supporting frames 106 a, 106 b, above each corresponding corners 308 a, 308 b, 308 c, 308 d of base 102, to lock the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b and the shorter wall panel supporting frames 106 a, 106 b together so that the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 is also locked in a uncollapsed configuration. The locking elements 108 a, 108 b, 108 c, 108 d includes corresponding locking hooks 722 a, 722 b, 722 c, 722 d of longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b and corresponding hook-receiving sockets 1112 a, 1112 b, 1112 c, 1112 d of shorter wall panel supporting frames 106 a, 106 b (for clarity, only the locking hooks 722 b, 722 c and the hook-receiving sockets 1112 a, 1112 b are illustrated).

In the case of the longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a, the locking elements 108 b, 108 c comprise corresponding locking hooks 722 b, 722 c, which are located on the inner face 900 at the free, most distant end of corresponding post members 706 a, 706 b relative to the horizontal cross-member 702. Each of the locking hooks 722 b, 722 c defines a generally L-shaped configuration having a first horizontal segment 904 connected to the inner face 900 of post members 706 a, 706 b and a vertical segment 906 projecting parallel towards the upper sides 714 a, 714 b (i.e. upwardly). Each free extremity of the vertical segment 906 also includes an end 908 angled away from the post members 706 a, 706 b. As it will be described, the locking hooks 722 b, 722 c of longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a are configured to engage corresponding hook-receiving socket 1112 b, 1112 c of upstanding shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b while the upstanding shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b are moved down towards the base 102 by the action of the slotted hinge members 400 b, 400 c and 800 a, 800 b. In this configuration, the end 908 facilitates physical coupling between the locking hooks 722 a, 722 b, 722 c, 722 d of longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b and the hook-receiving sockets 1112 a, 1112 b, 1112 c, 1112 d of shorter wall panel supporting frames 106 a, 106 b.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a also comprises rectangular cut holes 724 a, 724 b along the corresponding outer side 708 a, 708 b of post members 706 a, 706 b. The rectangular cut holes 724 a, 724 b located on the outer face 902 of longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a are configured to receive the corresponding locking hooks 722 a, 722 d, not shown, located on the inner face 900 of longer wall panel supporting frame 104 b. More particularly, and with reference to FIG. 10, the rectangular cut holes 724 a, 724 b are in a position relationship with the locking hooks 722 a, 722 d of longer wall panel supporting frame 104 b to enable the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b of a collapsed collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 to fold completely flat without banking at angles. The skilled addressee will appreciate that this configuration enables a stable stacking of a collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 over another collapsed collapsible storage and transportation unit 100.

In one embodiment, and referring to FIG. 7, the inner edge of the opened centre portion of U-shaped frame 700 comprises a series of nine wall panel-receiving holes 726 a, 726 b, 726 c, 726 d, 726 e, 726 f, 726 g, 726 h, 726 i. The wall panel-receiving holes 726 a, 726 b are located on the horizontal cross-member 702 (facing therefore upwardly), each adjacent to the corresponding inner sides 710 a, 710 b of post members 706 a, 706 b, and are configured to receive the corresponding wall panel pins 1316 a, 1316 b of wall panel 110 a therein. The wall panel-receiving hole 726 i, also located on the horizontal cross-member 702 (facing therefore upwardly), is also configured to receive the corresponding wall panel pin 1316 i of wall panel 110 a therein. The wall panel-receiving holes 726 c, 726 d, 726 e, 726 f, 726 g, 726 h are each located on the corresponding inner sides 710 a, 710 b (facing therefore horizontally), adjacent to the upper sides 714 a, 714 b of post members 706 a, 706 b, and are adapted to receive the corresponding wall panel pins 1316 c, 1316 d, 1316 e, 1316 f, 1316 g. 1316 h of wall panel 110 a therein. As it will be described, the wall panel-receiving holes 726 a, 726 b, 726 c, 726 d, 726 e, 726 f, 726 g, 726 h, 726 i are adapted to attach and secure the wall panels 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, 110 d to the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b.

In one embodiment, a pair of alignment notches 728 a, 728 b are further comprised on the upper sides 714 a, 714 b of post members 706 a, 706 b of longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a for stacking a collapsible storage and transportation units 100 over another collapsible storage and transportation units 100 that is in a uncollapsed configuration (the all four alignment notches 728 a, 728 b, 728 c, 728 d are illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2). The alignment notches 728 a, 728 b of longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a are each aligned along the corresponding outer sides 708 a, 708 b and project away from the post members 706 a, 706 b (i.e. upwardly). As for the alignment notches 322 a, 322 b, 322 c, 322 d of base 102, the alignment notches 728 a, 728 b, 728 c, 728 d of longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b are adapted to receive a corresponding socket, not shown, located on the bottom face of the corresponding corner foot members 312 a, 312 b, 312 c, 312 d of another collapsible storage and transportation unit 100.

Referring to FIGS. 11, 12, and 13, the shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b will now be described in accordance with one embodiment. Since the shorter wall panel supporting frames 106 a, 106 b are mirror images of each other, only the shorter wall panel supporting frame 106 a will be described. The skilled addressee will appreciate that a similar description applies to the shorter wall panel supporting frame 106 b with appropriate modifications to account for the fact it is a mirror image of the shorter wall panel supporting frame 106 a, if applicable.

In one embodiment, the shorter wall panel supporting frame 106 a also generally defines a U-shaped configuration 1100 having a first inner face 1102 directed towards the cargo area 302 when the shorter wall panel supporting frame 106 a is properly mounted on the base 102 and a second opposed outer face 1104, as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. The shorter wall panel supporting frame 106 a comprises a horizontal cross-member 1106 having a first and a second extremity 1108 a, 1108 b from which a corresponding first and second post members 1110 a, 1110 b project generally perpendicular therefrom (i.e. vertically) to define the U-shaped configuration of the U-shaped frame 1100 along with an opened centre portion (i.e. inside the U-shape structure). Each of the post members 1110 a, 1110 b is generally U-shaped with their concave face facing the cargo area 310 inside the cavity of base 102. In one embodiment, the post members 1110 a, 1110 b of the shorter wall panel supporting frames 106 a, 106 b are generally narrower than corresponding post members 706 a, 706 b of the longer wall supporting frames 104 a, 104 b. Alternatively, the post members 1110 a, 1110 b of the shorter wall panel supporting frames 106 a, 106 b may generally be wider than corresponding post members 706 a, 706 b of the longer wall supporting frames 104 a, 104 b.

With reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, located at each of the extremity 1108 a, 1108 b of horizontal cross-member 1106 is a corresponding first and second slotted hinge members 1200 a, 1200 b secured thereto. In one embodiment, each slotted hinge members 1200 a, 1200 b generally defines a Z-shaped configuration having a first horizontal segment 1202 connecting to the horizontal cross-member 1106 of shorter wall supporting frame 106 a, a second vertical segment 1204 projecting perpendicularly from the first extremity of the horizontal segment 1202 a, along a corresponding post members 1110 a, 1110 b (i.e. upwardly), and a third vertical segment 1206 projecting perpendicularly from the second extremity of the horizontal segment 1202 a in a direction opposed to the corresponding post members 1110 a, 1110 b (i.e. downwardly). Each of the vertical segment 1206 of slotted hinge members 1200 a, 1200 b is perforated at its most distant, free extremity to receive the guiding cylindrical pin therein, not shown. The slotted hinge member 1200 a of shorter wall panel supporting frame 106 a is adapted to engage the corresponding slotted hinge member 410 a of shorter base sidewall 328 a, while the slotted hinge member 1200 b of shorter wall panel supporting frame 106 a is adapted to engage the corresponding slotted hinge member 410 b of shorter base sidewall 328 a. The slotted hinge members 1200 a, 1200 b and 410 a, 410 b are pivotally connected together with the aid of guiding cylindrical pin, not shown, which pass through the perforation of each of the vertical segment 1206 of slotted hinge members 1200 a, 1200 b to the vertical openings 332 a, 332 b of slotted hinge members 410 a, 410 b. The skilled addressee will appreciate that this configuration enables the shorter wall panel supporting frames 106 a, 106 b to be hingedly and pivotally connected to the base 102.

To be maintained in an upstanding position on the base 102 (e.g. while the collapsible storage and transportation unit is in an uncollapsed configuration) by the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b, the shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b each comprises a pair of hook-receiving sockets 1112 a, 1112 b on the outer face 1104 of post members 1110 a, 1110 b, as in an embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 9. The hook-receiving sockets 1112 a, 1112 b are configured to receive therein the corresponding locking hook 904 a of upstanding longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a and the corresponding locking hook, not shown, of upstanding longer wall panel supporting frame 104 b while the upstanding shorter wall supporting frame 106 a is moved down towards the base 102 by the action of the slotted hinge members 410 a, 410 b and 1200 a, 1200 b. It will be appreciated that the angled ends 910 a, 910 b of each of the vertical segments 908 a, 908 b facilitate the physical coupling between the locking hooks 904 a, 904 b of longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b and the hook-receiving sockets 1112 a, 1112 b of shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b.

As described for the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, the frame locking elements 108 a, 108 b, 108 c, 108 d lock the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b and the shorter wall panel supporting frames 106 a, 106 b together so that the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 is also locked in a uncollapsed configuration. In addition, the frame locking elements 108 a, 108 b, 108 c, 108 d maintain the shorter wall panel supporting frames 106 a, 106 b in an upstanding position.

In the case of the shorter wall panel supporting frame 106 a, the locking elements 108 b, 108 c comprise corresponding hook-receiving sockets 1112 a, 1112 b, which are located on the inner face 1102 at the free, most distant end of corresponding post members 1110 a, 1110 b relative to the horizontal cross-member 1106. The hook-receiving sockets 1112 a, 1112 b of wall panel supporting frame 106 a generally define U-shaped openings 1208 a, 1208 b opened towards the horizontal cross-member 1106, along the post members 1110 a, 1110 b, that are adapted to receive the corresponding locking hooks 722 a, 722 b of longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b.

In one embodiment, the shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b comprise the hook-receiving sockets 1112 a, 1112 b, 1112 c, 1112 d, while the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b comprise the locking hooks 722 a, 722 b, 722 c, 722 d. Alternatively, the shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b may comprise the locking hooks 722 a, 722 b, 722 c, 722 d, while the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b comprise may comprise the hook-receiving sockets 1112 a, 1112 b, 1112 c, 1112 d. The skilled addressee will appreciate that any kind of locking mechanism enabling a locking of the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b with the shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b in a uncollapsed configuration may be used.

The inner edge of the opened centre portion of U-shaped frame 1100 also comprises a series of nine wall panel-receiving holes 1114 a, 1114 b, 1114 c, 1114 d, 1114 e, 1114 f, 1114 g, 1114 h, 1114 i as in an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11. The wall panel-receiving holes 1114 a, 1114 b are located on the horizontal cross-member 1106 (facing therefore upwardly), adjacent to the corresponding post members 1112 a, 1112 b, and are configured to receive the corresponding wall panel pins 1316 a, 1316 b of wall panel 110 a therein. The wall panel-receiving hole 1114 i, also located on the horizontal cross-member 1106 (facing therefore upwardly), is also configured to receive the corresponding wall panel pin 1316 i of wall panel 110 a therein. The wall panel-receiving holes 726 c, 726 d, 726 e, 726 f, 726 g, 726 h are located along the corresponding post members 1110 a, 1110 b (facing therefore horizontally), adjacent to the corresponding post members 1112 a, 1112 b, and are adapted to receive the corresponding wall panel pins 1316 c, 1316 d, 1316 e, 1316 f, 1316 g, 1316 h of wall panel 110 a therein. As it will be described, the wall panel-receiving holes 1114 a, 1114 b, 1114 c, 1114 d, 1114 e, 1114 f, 1114 g, 1114 h, 1114 i are adapted to attach and secure the wall panels 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, 110 d to the shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b.

In the present disclosure, the skilled addressee will appreciate that the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b (including all its structures and functions described herein) may be interchanged with shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b (including all its structures and functions described herein). It will also be appreciated that various configurations of longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a, 104 b and various configurations of shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b may be used, including inverted U-shaped frames (i.e. frames having the free extremities of the post members directed towards the cross-member) and square frames (i.e. frames having a square configuration with a hollow centre receivable for the wall panel), for example.

The skilled addressee will further appreciate that while the slotted hinge members disclosed enable the folding of the shorter wall panel supporting frames 106 a, 106 b in a random order first, followed by the folding of the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b in a random order, all the slotted hinge members disclosed may also be adapted in size and shape to enable folding any of the shorter wall panel supporting frames 106 a, 106 b and any of the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b in any random order over the base 102. It will further be appreciated that any kind of hinges, including slotted hinges and L-shaped slotted hinge members, that enable the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b and the shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b to be pivoted, either randomly or not, in order to collapse the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 may also be used.

Furthermore, while two slotted hinges are described for each of the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b and each of the shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b, the skilled addressee will appreciate that any number of slotted hinges may be used. It will also be appreciated that the slotted hinges may be attached or secured to the wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b, the shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b, and the base 102 by a variety of ways, including but not limited to riveting, screwing, welding, and the likes.

Referring to FIGS. 13 to 15, the four wall panels 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, 110 d will now be described in accordance with one embodiment. Since the wall panels 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, 110 d may be interchangeably connected and secured between the corresponding post members 706 a, 706 b of longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b and the corresponding post members 1110 a, 1110 b of shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b, only the wall panels 110 a will be described. The skilled addressee will appreciate that a similar description applies to all the other three wall panels 110 b, 110 c, 110 d considering appropriate modification, if applicable.

The wall panel 110 a of a given embodiment generally defines a rectangular configuration and comprises a pair of longer parallel sides 1300 a, 1300 b extending perpendicularly between a pair of shorter parallel sides 1302 a, 1302 b, as well as inner face 1304, an opposed outer face 1306, and four corners 1308 a, 1308 b, 1308 c, 1308 d, as illustrated in FIG. 13. To add structural rigidity, five corrugation members 1310 a, 1310 b, 1310 c, 1310 d, 1310 e defining six embossments 1312 a, 1312 b, 1312 c, 1312 d, 1310 e, 1310 f are also comprised on the outer face 1306 of wall panels 110 a. The five corrugation members 1310 a, 1310 b, 1310 c, 1310 d, 1310 e of the wall panels 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, 110 d may also be modified to a design which has different patterns or configurations to accommodate for differently shaped cargo loads or client requirements and needs. For example, the current design of the wall panels 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, 110 d may be switched to a meshed pattern consisting of several overlapping or crossing members which form a grid or cage, with or without a back panel exposing the cargo load inside. Similarly, these members may or may not have the same orientation and dimensions as one another. The skilled addressee will further appreciate that such modified design for the wall panels 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, 110 d will be mountable onto the wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b, 106 a, 106 b in the same fashion as originally displayed. Additionally, if required by the client, such modified design for the wall panels 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, 110 d may comprise of an inward extension or jig which extends to the inside of the cargo area. Such an inward extension may comprise of a racking system used for carrying specific cargo loads which may be regularly or irregularly shaped with respect to the cargo area. The corrugation members 1310 a, 1310 b, 1310 c, 1310 d, 1310 e extend between the longer parallel sides 1300 a, 1300 b, parallel to the shorter parallel sides 1302 a, 1302 b, and are generally U-shaped with their concave faces facing the cargo area 310 inside the cavity of base 102. Shorter parallel sides 1302 a, 1302 b and five corrugation members 1310 a, 1310 b, 1310 c, 1310 d, 1310 e may or may not overlap the front and back faces of the pair of longer parallel sides 1300 a, 1300 b. Also present on the outer face 1308 are a pair of horizontal cross-members 1314 a, 1314 b extending between the corresponding corrugation members 1310 a, 1310 b and 1310 d, 1310 e. Such pair of flat horizontal cross-members 1314 a and 1314 b may also be placed higher up along the wall panels 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, 110 d along with having an inwardly curved orientation, forming a handle.

In the illustrated embodiment, each of the corrugation members 1310 a, 1310 b, 1310 c, 1310 d, 1310 e are spaced apart from each other by the same distance. The corrugation members 1310 a, 1310 e are also spaced apart from the corresponding shorter parallel sides 1302 a, 1302 b by a same distance, which is different from the distance separating each of the corrugation members 1310 a, 1310 b, 1310 c, 1310 d, 1310 e. Alternatively, the distance separating each of the corrugation members 1310 a, 1310 b, 1310 c, 1310 d, 1310 e as well as the distance separating the corrugation members 1312 a, 1312 e from the corresponding shorter parallel sides 1302 a, 1302 b may be the same or different.

On its outer periphery, and still referring to FIG. 13, the wall panel 110 a also includes a series of nine wall panel pins 1316 a, 1316 b, 1316 c, 1316 d, 1316 e, 1316 f, 1316 g, 1316 h, 1316 i adapted to engage corresponding wall panel-receiving holes 726 a, 726 b, 726 c, 726 d, 726 e, 726 f, 726 g, 726 h, 726 i of longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b and wall panel-receiving holes 1114 a, 1114 b, 1114 c, 1114 d, 1114 e, 1114 f, 1114 g, 1114 h, 1114 i of shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b. The wall panel pins 1316 a, 1316 b are located at the corresponding corners 1308 c, 1308 d of wall panel 110 a where they project perpendicularly from the corresponding longer parallel side 1300 b (i.e. downwardly) and are adapted to engage the corresponding wall panel-receiving holes 726 a, 726 b of longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b and the corresponding wall panel-receiving holes 1114 a, 1114 b of shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b.ln addition, the wall panel pin 1316 i is located in between wall panel pins 1316 a, 1316 b of wall panel 110 a where it projects perpendicularly from the corresponding longer parallel side 1300 b (i.e. downwardly) and is adapted to engage the corresponding wall panel-receiving hole 726 i of longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b and the corresponding wall panel-receiving hole 1114 i of shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b. The wall panel pins 1316 c, 1316 d are located at the corresponding corners 1308 a, 1308 b where they project perpendicularly from the corresponding shorter longitudinal sides 1302 a, 1302 b (i.e. sidewardly), and are adapted to engage the corresponding wall panel-receiving holes 726 c, 726 d of longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b and the corresponding wall panel-receiving holes 1114 c, 1114 d of shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b. The skilled addressee will appreciate that the wall panel pins 1316 a, 1316 b, 1316 c, 1316 d, 1316 e, 1316 f, 1316 g, 1316 h, 1316 i are adapted to attach the wall panels 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, 110 d to the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b and to the shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b. Wall panel pins 1316 a, 1316 b, 1316 e, 1316 f, 1316 g, 1316 h, 1316 i may similarly be placed at different locations along the members 1300 b, 1302 a, 1302 b of the wall panels 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, 110 d in more or less quantities if needed. Wall panel pins 1316 a, 1316 b, 1316 e, 1316 f, 1316 g, 1316 h, 1316 i may also be changed from a circular cross-section to rectangular, tapered one.

To be secured to the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b and to the shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b, the wall panel 110 a further comprises a pair of spring-loaded securing handles 1318 a, 1318 b accessible from the outer face 1306 and located at the corresponding corners 1308 a, 1308 b, as in an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13. Each of the spring-loaded securing handles 1318 a, 1318 b generally defines a L-shaped configuration having a first horizontal segment 1320, which includes the corresponding wall panel pins 1316 c, 1316 d at its free, most distant end, and a second vertical segment 1322, which includes a handle portion. The horizontal segment 1320 is generally parallel to the longer parallel side 1300 a and is maintained in place by a housing bracket 1324 and by passing through corresponding perforations of shorter longitudinal sides 1302 a, 1302 b. The spring-loaded securing handles 1318 a, 1318 b may be replaced by a similarly shaped mechanism which does not contain a spring, if necessary.

In one embodiment, the horizontal segment 1320 includes a coil-spring 1326 located between the housing bracket 1324 and the corresponding shorter longitudinal sides 1302 a, 1302 b. In a rest state, the coil-spring 1326 biases the spring-loaded securing handles 1318 a, 1318 b such that the corresponding wall panel pins 1316 c, 1316 d are projecting perpendicularly from the corresponding shorter parallel sides 1302 a, 1302 b (i.e. sidewardly). Accordingly, a force opposed to the force of the spring-coil 1326 (e.g. by using the handle of vertical segment 1322) may be applied to the spring-loaded securing handles 1318 a, 1318 to retract the wall panel pins 1316 c, 1316 d within the shorter longitudinal sides 1302 a, 1302 b, inside the wall panel 110 a. In another embodiment, while the spring-loaded securing handles 1318 a, 1318 b are in the rest state, the vertical segment 1322 is secured in place by a clip 1328 located on the outer face 1306 of wall panel 110 a, within the embossment created by the corrugation members 1310 a, 1310 e and the shorter parallel sides 1302 a, 1302 b. The skilled addressee will appreciate that the wall panel pins 1316 c, 1316 d are adapted to secure the wall panels 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, 110 d to the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b and to the shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b.

To attach and secure the wall panel 110 a, the wall panel pins 1316 c, 1316 d of spring-loaded securing handles 1318 a, 1318 b are first retracted within the shorter longitudinal sides 1302 a, 1302 b. The wall panel 110 a is then aligned with and moved down towards the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b or the shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b to be received in the centre portion of U-shaped frames 700, 1110 thereof. The wall panel pins 1316 a, 1316 b, 1316 e, 1316 f, 1316 g, 1316 h, 1316 i therefore engage the corresponding wall panel-receiving holes 726 a, 726 b, 726 e, 726 f, 726 g, 726 h, 726 i or the corresponding wall panel-receiving holes 1114 a, 1114 b, 1114 e, 1114 f, 1114 g, 1114 h, 1114 i to attach the wall panel 110 a to the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b or to the shorter wall panel supporting frames 106 a, 106 b, respectively. When in place, the panel pins 1316 c, 1316 d are moved from their retracted positions to engage the corresponding wall panel-receiving holes 726 c, 726 d of longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b or the corresponding wall panel-receiving holes 1114 c, 1114 d of shorter wall panel supporting frames 106 a, 106 b by the action of the coil-spring 1326, thereby securing the wall panel 110 a. Wall panel-receiving holes 726 a, 726 b, 726 e, 726 f, 726 g, 726 h, 726 i, 1114 a, 1114 b, 1114 e, 1114 f, 1114 g, 1114 h, 1114 i may similarly be placed at different locations along the members 702, 710 a, 710 b of the longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a, 104 b and members 1110 a, 1110 b, 1106 of shorter wall panel supporting frames 106 a, 106 b in more or less quantities as shown, if needed. Their circular orientation may also be changed to a slotted shape for accommodating a rectangular, tapered wall panel pin. Such a slotted shape may also extend to the front faces of wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b, 106 a, 106 b.

The skilled addressee will appreciate that any kind of wall panel pins and wall panel-receiving holes, including wall panel-receiving holes located on wall panel and wall panel pins located on supporting frames, may be used. It will also be appreciated that various kinds of spring-loaded securing pins, including removable securing pins and securing pins functioning by rocking at least one of their elements to lock a wall panel into a wall panel supporting frame, may also be used.

The wall panels 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, 110 d are all interchangeably connectable and securable to the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b, as illustrated in FIG. 14, and the shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b, as illustrated in FIG. 15. In another embodiment, at least one of the wall panels 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, 110 d is interchangeably connectable and securable to at least one of the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b and the shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b. In still another embodiment, with the exception of the at least one interchangeably connectable and securable wall panel, all the remaining wall panels are permanently fixed to the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b and the shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b. In yet another embodiment, the wall panels 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, 110 d are neither interchangeably connectable nor securable to the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b and to the shorter wall supporting frames 106 a, 106 b such that the wall panels 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, 110 d such that they are all permanently fixed to the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100. The skilled addressee will appreciate that the wall panels 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, 110 d may be stackable over each other and may also be transportable independently of the storage and transportation unit 100.

Turning to FIGS. 16 to 20, the collapsing and uncollapsing of the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 will now be described in accordance with one embodiment.

In one embodiment, and referring to FIGS. 16 to 19, the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 may be collapsed by first folding any one of the shorter wall panel supporting frames 106 a, 106 b on over the base 102, and then folding any one of the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b over the shorter wall panel supporting frames 106 a, 106 b. Since the folding of each of the shorter wall panel supporting frames 106 a, 106 b is the same, only the folding of shorter wall panel supporting frame 106 a will be described. The skilled addressee will appreciate that a similar description applies to the shorter wall panel supporting frame 106 b with appropriate modifications, if applicable. The skilled addressee will further appreciate that the uncollapsing of the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 generally follows a reverse order taking into account appropriate modification, if applicable.

To fold it over the base 102 from its upstanding position, the shorter wall panel supporting frame 106 a is pulled away from the base 102, in a direction opposed thereof (i.e. upwardly), by a displacement corresponding to the displacement of the vertical openings 332 a, 332 b of slotted hinge members 410 a, 410 b, as in one embodiment. By doing so, the displacement covered by the shorter wall panel supporting frame 106 a provides the clearance required to disengage the hook-receiving sockets 1112 a, 1112 b from a corresponding locking hook 722 b of longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a and the corresponding locking hook 722 a of longer wall panel supporting frame 104 b. From this upward position, the shorter wall panel supporting frame 106 a may then be pivoted relative to the base 102 to be folded over the cargo area 310 by the combined action of the slotted hinge members 410 a, 410 b of base 102, the slotted hinge members 1200 a, 1200 b of shorter wall panel supporting frame 106 a, and the guiding cylindrical pins, not shown.

In another embodiment, the folding of each of the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b is also the same and only the folding of longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a will be described. The skilled addressee will appreciate that a similar description applies to the longer wall panel supporting frame 104 b with appropriate modifications, if applicable.

To fold it over the base 102 from its upstanding position, the longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a is pulled away from the base 102, in a direction opposed thereof (i.e. upwardly), by a displacement corresponding to the displacement of the vertical openings 332 b, 332 c of slotted hinge members 404 b, 404 c, as in one embodiment. By doing so, the displacement covered by the longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a provides a clearance required to disengage the notch-receiving sockets 720 a, 720 from the corresponding alignment notches 324 b, 324 c of base 102. From this upward position, the longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a may then be pivoted relative to the base 102 to be folded over any one of the shorter wall panel supporting frames 106 a, 106 b by the combined action of the slotted hinge members 404 b, 404 c of base 102, the slotted hinge members 800 a, 800 b of longer wall panel supporting frame 104 a, and the guiding cylindrical pins 1000 a, 1000 b. When folded, the locking hooks 722 a, 722 b, 722 c, 722 d of the first folded longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b are received within the corresponding free spaces created by the offset of the shorter wall panel supporting frames 106 a, 106 b and the shorter base sidewalls 328 a, 328 b, while the locking hooks 722 a, 722 b, 722 c, 722 d of the second folded longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b are received within the rectangular cut holes 724 a, 724 b of the first folded longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b.

In an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 20, the collapsed configuration of the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 is completely flat with the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b, the shorter wall panel supporting frames 106 a, 106 b, and the wall panels 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, 110 d being generally parallel to the base 102. Alternatively, the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 may fold in a configuration where the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b and the shorter wall panel supporting frames 106 a, 106 b are not folded completely flat, but at an angled relative to the base 102 as long as the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 remains stackable. Still in the illustrated embodiment, the shorter wall panel supporting frames 106 a, 106 b is folded down first, followed by the folding of the longer wall panel supporting frames 104 a, 104 b to collapse the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100.

Referring to FIGS. 21 to 23, the stacking of at least two collapsible storage and transportation units 100 where any of the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 are in a collapsed and/or uncollapsed configuration(s) will now be described in accordance with one embodiment.

In one embodiment, a first collapsible storage and transportation unit 2100 may be stacked over a second collapsible storage and transportation unit 2102 while both the first and second collapsible storage and transportation units 2100, 2102 are in a uncollapsed configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 21. In this case, the alignment notches 728 a, 728 b, 728 c, 728 d of collapsible storage and transportation unit 2102 may assist in aligning the collapsible storage and transportation unit 2100 by engaging the corresponding sockets, not shown, located on the bottom face of corresponding corner foot members 312 a, 312 b, 312 c, 312 d of collapsible storage and transportation unit 2100 to prevent its lateral movement.

In another embodiment, a first collapsible storage and transportation unit 2200 may be stacked over a second collapsible storage and transportation unit 2202 while both the first and second collapsible storage and transportation units 2200, 2202 are in a collapsed configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 22. In this case, the alignment notches 324 a, 324 b, 324 c, 324 d of collapsible storage and transportation unit 2202 may assist in aligning the collapsible storage and transportation unit 2200 by engaging the corresponding sockets, not shown, located on the bottom face of corresponding corner foot members 312 a, 312 b, 312 c, 312 d of collapsible storage and transportation unit 2200 to prevent its lateral movement. The skilled addressee will appreciate that a collapsible storage and transportation unit in a collapsed configuration may be used like a traditional crate pallet and the likes, therefore exposing the goods and/or cargo to the outside environment.

In another embodiment, a first collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 may be stacked over a second collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 while any of the first and second collapsible storage and transportation units 100 is in a collapsed and/or uncollapsed configuration(s). Still in this embodiment, the first and second collapsible storage and transportation units may also be stacked over each other while at least one wall panels 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, 110 d is connected to any one of them. Alternatively, neither of the first and second collapsible storage and transportation units 100 have wall panels 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, 110 d connected thereto to facilitate access to cargo, therefore exposing the goods and/or cargo to the outside environment. This last configuration may be useful, e.g., when it is not desired to store and/or transport cargo in an enclosed space (e.g. plants, animals, livestock, etc.) or when a reduced weight collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 would be desirable.

In still another embodiment, the base 102 alone (without any other elements of a collapsible storage and transportation unit) or any alternative covering/capping element may be stacked over a collapsible storage and transportation unit to provide a ceiling to it.

Although the present embodiments illustrated the stacking of two collapsible storage and transportation units 100 over each other, the skilled addressee will appreciate that any number of collapsible storage and transportation units 100, each in either of the collapsed or uncollapsed configuration, may also be stacked.

The skilled addressee will appreciate that the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100, including all the elements thereof, may be manufactured from steel or any suitable metal alloys or polymers (e.g. plastics) by any appropriate manufacturing technique, including but not limited to forming, shaping, joining, and welding metal sheets.

Although the above description relates to specific preferred embodiments as presently contemplated by the inventor, the skilled addressee will appreciate that the invention in its broad aspect includes mechanical and functional equivalents of the elements described herein.

CLAUSES

Clause 1: A collapsible storage and transportation unit, comprising:

-   -   a base including a cargo area surrounded by an edge having four         ends;     -   four wall panel supporting members connected to the edge of the         base, each wall panel supporting member comprising at least a         first post member and a second post member, the wall panel         supporting members being pivotable between a folded         configuration and an unfolded configuration, wherein in the         folded configuration the wall panel supporting members are lying         down over the base and the collapsible storage and         transportation unit is in a collapsed configuration, wherein in         the unfolded configuration the first post member of a first         given wall panel supporting member and the second post member of         a second given wall panel supporting member are both adjacent to         each other and project together from each corresponding end of         the base generally perpendicularly thereto; and     -   four locking means, each locking means comprising a first         locking member and a second locking member, the first locking         member being located on a first post member of a first wall         panel supporting member, the second locking member being located         on a second post member of a second wall panel supporting         member, wherein the physical coupling between the first locking         member and the second locking member enables locking the first         wall panel supporting member and the second wall panel         supporting member in a uncollapsed configuration,     -   wherein a first collapsible storage and transportation unit is         stackable over a second collapsible storage and transportation         unit.

Clause 2: The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to clause 1, further comprising at least one wall panel, the at least one wall panel being connectable between two corresponding post members of any wall panel supporting member.

Clause 3: The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to any one of clauses 1 and 2, wherein the first collapsible storage and transportation unit in any one of the collapsed and the uncollapsed configuration is stackable over the second collapsible storage and transportation unit in any one of the collapsed and the uncollapsed configuration.

Clause 4: The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to clause 2, wherein the collapsible storage and transportation unit is transportable in presence or absence of the at least one wall panel.

Clause 5: The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to clause 2, wherein the first collapsible storage and transportation unit and the second collapsible storage and transportation unit are stackable over each other in presence or absence of the at least one wall panel.

Clause 6: The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to any one of clauses 2, 4, and 5, wherein the at least one wall panel is stackable over another wall panel.

Clause 7: The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to any one of clauses 2, 4 to 6, wherein the at least one wall panel is transportable while stacked over another wall panel.

Clause 8: The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to any one of clauses 1 to 7, wherein each of the four wall panel supporting members comprises a U-shaped frame.

Clause 9: The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to any one of clauses 2, 4 to 7, wherein the at least one wall panel is received within the U-shaped frame.

Clause 10: The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to any one of clauses 1 to 9, wherein each of the four wall panel supporting members comprises at least one hinge.

Clause 11: The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to clause 10, wherein the at least one hinge comprises a slotted hinge.

Clause 12: The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to any one of clauses 10 and 11, wherein the slotted hinge is sized and shaped so that the four wall panel supporting members are collapsed in a random order.

Clause 13: The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to any one of clauses 1 to 13, wherein the first locking member comprises a male connector and the second locking member comprises a female connector sized and shaped to receive the male connector therein.

Clause 14: The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to clause 13, wherein the male connector physically couples the female connector socket by a vertical displacement of the at least one slotted hinge.

Clause 15: The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to any one of clauses 13 and 14, wherein the male connector comprises a hook and the female connector comprises a hook-receiving socket. 

1. A collapsible storage and transportation unit; comprising: a base including a cargo area surrounded by an edge having four ends; four wall panel supporting members connected to the edge of the base, each wall panel supporting member comprising at least a first post member and a second post member, the wall panel supporting members being pivotable between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration, wherein in the folded configuration the wall panel supporting members are lying down over the base and the collapsible storage and transportation unit is in a collapsed configuration, wherein in the unfolded configuration the first post member of a first given wall panel supporting member and the second post member of a second given wall panel supporting member are both adjacent to each other and project together from each corresponding end of the base generally perpendicularly thereto; and four locking means, each locking means comprising a first locking member and a second locking member, the first locking member being located on a first post member of a first wall panel supporting member, the second locking member being located on a second post member of a second wall panel supporting member, wherein the physical coupling between the first locking member and the second locking member enables locking the first wall panel supporting member and the second wall panel supporting member in a uncollapsed configuration, wherein a first collapsible storage and transportation unit is stackable over a second collapsible storage and transportation unit.
 2. The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to claim 1, further comprising at least one wall panel, the at least one wall panel being connectable between two corresponding post members of any wall panel supporting member.
 3. The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to claim 1, wherein the first collapsible storage and transportation unit in any one of the collapsed and the uncollapsed configuration is stackable over the second collapsible storage and transportation unit in any one of the collapsed and the uncollapsed configuration.
 4. The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to claim 2, wherein the collapsible storage and transportation unit is transportable in presence or absence of the at least one wall panel.
 5. The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to claim 2, wherein the first collapsible storage and transportation unit and the second collapsible storage and transportation unit are stackable over each other in presence or absence of the at least one wall panel.
 6. The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to claim 2, wherein the at least one wall panel is stackable over another wall panel.
 7. The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to claim 2, wherein the at least one wall panel is transportable while stacked over another wall panel.
 8. The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to claim 1, wherein each of the four wall panel supporting members comprises a U-shaped frame.
 9. The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to claim 2, wherein the at least one wall panel is received within the U-shaped frame.
 10. The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to claim 1, wherein each of the four wall panel supporting members comprises at least one hinge.
 11. The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to claim 10, wherein the at least one hinge comprises a slotted hinge.
 12. The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to claim 10, wherein the slotted hinge is sized and shaped so that the four wall panel supporting members are collapsed in a random order.
 13. The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to claim 1, wherein the first locking member comprises a male connector and the second locking member comprises a female connector sized and shaped to receive the male connector therein.
 14. The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to claim 13, wherein the male connector physically couples the female connector socket by a vertical displacement of the at least one slotted hinge.
 15. The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to claim 13, wherein the male connector comprises a hook and the female connector comprises a hook-receiving socket. 